WHO Opens Public Consultation on New HPTLC Chapter for International Pharmacopoeia

The World Health Organization (WHO) has released a draft proposal for a new general chapter, 1.18: High-Performance Thin-Layer Chromatography (HPTLC), to be added to the International Pharmacopoeia. This chapter outlines standardized procedures for HPTLC, a refined form of traditional TLC that offers greater reproducibility by maintaining strict control over analytical variables.

The chapter provides:

• A primer on HPTLC principles
• A list of required equipment and reagents
• A step-by-step procedure
• System suitability guidelines and documentation practices
• A new reagent specification for saturated magnesium chloride (MgCl₂) solution

The draft is currently open for public consultation via the WHO PleaseReview™ platform until 9 September 2025. Interested stakeholders can access the proposal under the “Working documents in public consultation” section of the WHO website.

This marks a significant step toward harmonizing global quality standards for pharmaceutical analysis.

23-07-2025